Secret Codes in a 1855 Newspaper

[taiwan_girl]

Interesting story about how families, etc. tried to communicate with world explorers back in 1855. The things we take for granted now (or even 25-35 years ago) did not exist back then.

They put the messages in the London Times because they figured that everywhere in the world the explorers went, there was a good chance they would be able to find a London Times newspaper.

Sending messages to Loved Ones in the London Times

[Catseye3]

Thanks, TG! That was very interesting.

I like the way the writer unspooled the story.

[LuFins Dad]

@Aqua-Letifer is it “A 1885” or “An 1885”?

[Aqua Letifer]

@LuFins-Dad said in Secret Codes in a 1855 Newspaper:

@Aqua-Letifer is it “A 1885” or “An 1885”?

If it's a date (eighteen eighty-five), "an."
If it's a number (one thousand eight hundred eighty five), "a."

[LuFins Dad]

@Aqua-Letifer said in Secret Codes in a 1855 Newspaper:

@LuFins-Dad said in Secret Codes in a 1855 Newspaper:

@Aqua-Letifer is it “A 1885” or “An 1885”?

If it's a date (eighteen eighty-five), "an."
If it's a number (one thousand eight hundred eighty five), "a."

Based on phonetics? The year eighteen eighty-five starts with the phonetic long A. The number one thousand phonetically starts with a W consonant sound?

[Aqua Letifer]

@LuFins-Dad said in Secret Codes in a 1855 Newspaper:

@Aqua-Letifer said in Secret Codes in a 1855 Newspaper:

@LuFins-Dad said in Secret Codes in a 1855 Newspaper:

@Aqua-Letifer is it “A 1885” or “An 1885”?

If it's a date (eighteen eighty-five), "an."
If it's a number (one thousand eight hundred eighty five), "a."

Based on phonetics? The year eighteen eighty-five starts with the phonetic long A. The number one thousand phonetically starts with a W consonant sound?

Yep! English doesn't have nearly as many phonetic rules as others—French has plenty—but this is one of them.